Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Mine Detection Dog Program: The Cambodian Experience, H.E. Khem Sophoan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the seven years since its creation, Cambodia’s Mine Detection Dog (MDD) Program has grown and developed to become a fully integrated part of the country’s mine clearance strategy. This article highlights the program’s history and achievements.

News From The Oas, Whitney Tolliver

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1996, the OAS Mine Action Program has assisted the government of Costa Rica in its efforts of mine clearance, mine risk education (MRE) and victim rehabilitation. On December 10, 2002, the country became the first in the Americas to officially declare itself free of AP mines. Mine contamination within the country had been concentrated primarily along the northern border as a result of the conflict in Nicaragua. Costa Rica itself has never produced, imported, stockpiled or used AP mines.

Remote Explosive Scent Training: Genuine Or A Paper Tiger?, Håvard Bach, Ian Mclean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article briefly discusses many of the research challenges presented by the Remote Explosive Scent Training (REST) concept. These challenges were reviewed at a recent workshop (8–12 February 2003), hosted by APOPO at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, and attended by all current players involved in developing or using REST for demining purposes.

Costa Rica: The First Country In Latin America Free Of Anti-Personnel Landmines, Jaime Perales, Carl Case

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On December 10, 2002, Costa Rica declared itself the first country free from anti-personnel landmines in the Western Hemisphere. Placed in hills and brooks, bridges and roads, mines and UXO were buried for more than 15 years during the conflict in Central America.

The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program: Helping Countries “Get On Their Feet”, Jenny Lange

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1988, the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program (formerly the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Program) has been involved in mine action efforts around the globe. While much has been written about the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program over the past few years, it is useful to review the program’s fundamentals if only to remind ourselves of its policy and procedural aspects.

The Survey Action Center, David Hartley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Survey Action Center (SAC) is an international organization with its headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is registered in the United States as a non-profit organization. SAC serves as the executing agency for Landmine Impact Surveys (LISs). These surveys will allow for greater prioritization of demining efforts and further integration of the various mine action sectors.

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency And Mine Action, Pehr Lodhammar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) is a Swedish governmental organization that has been involved in Mine Action since 1999. Currently, the SRSA is involved in mine action in Eritrea, Kosovo, Jenin, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The SRSA conducts a number of mine-related research and development (R&D) projects and hopes to become an operational mine clearance operator in the future.

International Mine Action Standards: Future Development Of Ppe Standards, Adrian Wilkinson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explains developments since the issue of International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) 10.30 in order to illustrate the potential amendments to IMAS 10.30 over the next two years.

First Person: Deminers’ Stories, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Personal stories open a unique world by revealing the challenging experiences in the life of a deminer. These stories are compiled from the CD Landmines: Clearing the Way, which showcases field experiences and explains how the U.S. government and the international community are working together to solve the landmine problem.

Ocean Group: Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Landmine Clearance Division, Susanna Sprinkel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2000, the Ocean Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Landmine Clearance Division (EOD Division) has been forming an extensive underwater clearance program by combining vast experience from different fields of mine action and by developing advanced underwater demining technologies

Canadian Centre For Mine Action Technologies, Susanna Sprinkel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Funded by the Canadian Landmine Fund, the Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT) works with Canadian and other international organizations to enhance the mine action community. To date, they have tested and evaluated a number of now widely used pieces of mine action equipment as well as researched new techniques to further develop demining technologies.

Mine Detection Dogs: An Integral Tool In Ronco Mine Clearance Operations, Ronco Consulting Corporation

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine detection dogs (MDDs) have become an important tool to mine action organizations in many programs across the globe. For about 15 years, RONCO has been one such organization. This article describes the role of MDDs in RONCO’s operations.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) provides operational assistance to mine action programmes and operators, conducts research and provides support to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

An Update On The Mine Action Support Group, Masg Masg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG). This includes updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Use Of Mechanical Equipment In Mine Clearance, Johannes Dirscherl

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In recent years, mechanical equipment has become more and more prominent in demining programs around the world. This article provides an overview of mechanical demining equipment and highlights the involvement of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in promoting such equipment.

The U.S. Department Of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program, Sean Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1994, the United States initiated a research and development (R&D) program to develop new, internationally shareable technologies for humanitarian deminers and for U.S. troops performing peacekeeping and stability operations. The Humanitarian Demining (HD) R&D Program is part of the overall U.S. effort to assist with the global landmine problem.

Spoiled Soil, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While it is necessary to remove explosive items from the land to facilitate repatriation, reconstruction and rehabilitation, it is crucial that, in undertaking this action, the soil structure is not inadvertently damaged, creating short-, medium- and long-term problems for agriculture, and in particular, the sustainable farming that supports vulnerable communities.

Adopt-A-Team: Adopt-A-Minefield® Responds To The Situation In Afghanistan, Megan Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Afghanistan is considered one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. This is the sad legacy of 23 years of near-continuous war—first against Soviet occupiers, then between rival Afghan factions. The majority of the population has not experienced a time of peace in their lives. According to the United Nations, between 150 and 300 people are injured or killed every month due to landmines or UXO. Seventy percent of those accidents involve civilians—many of whom are returning refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The Minex Center, Minex Minex

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1978, in the scope of cooperation or defense agreements that link us to some countries (e.g., Chad and Lebanon), the French Engineers have taken part in overseas operations in countries that are greatly affected by the problem of mines and battlefield pollution, and that are no longer at war. Those sappers will acquire an experience recognized worldwide.

In 1992, in order to standardise mine clearance techniques and to elaborate an acceptable training doctrine for all the military actors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff decided to create a training center for post-war mine clearance within the French Army Engineer School …

Security Devices (Pvt) Limited, Trevor Thomsen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Security Devices (PVT) Limited has expanded its manufacture of metal detectors to include an entire range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and manual demining hand-tools.

Low-Profile Disposal Of U.S. Ordnance, Frederick L. Barthold

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The mission was simple enough; monitor air operations at Thumrate bombing range from a safe distance, locate ordnance that did not detonate, ensure a positive identification of said ordnance and ensure a complete disposal of said ordnance is accomplished with the lowest profile possible. Oh, if life could be so easy! The ordnance: MK82, 500-pound bombs using M904E point detonating nose fuzing with a M990 series, inertia tail fuze back-up, and GBU-10, laser guided bombs (MK84) with a MK346 electric tail fuze. What normally would have been a “blow-n-go” operation took a brutal turn for the worse when a herd …

New Partnership Brings Man’S Best Friend To Armenia, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As a result of the 1988–1994 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia suffers from landmine infestation in those areas where fighting took place.Generous donations from the Armenian Assembly of America and the U.S. government will allow the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) to send several mine detection dogs (MDDs) to help eliminate Armenia’s landmine problem.

Victim Assistance Efforts: The Niagara Foot, Mary Bashai, Tim Bryant

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A team of Canadian researchers and professionals has designed and tested a novel prosthetic foot tailored for active amputees in post-conflict regions.

The International Test And Evaluation Program, Itep Itep

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 17 July 2000, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Commission (EC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the International Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP); Germany became a Participant on 14 June 2002.

Messiah College’S Minefield Simulation, Donald Pratt

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As a part of their Mine Awareness Week, members of the Messiah College Landmine Action Project (MCLAP) built a simulated minefield to draw attention to the landmine issue and give members of the community a taste of what it might be like to live in a place where mines are a part of daily experience.

Plays Nicely With Others: Some Thoughts On Issues Raised At The 6th International Meeting Of Mine Action Directors, Geneva, March 17–20, 2003, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

At the Mine Action Information Center (MAIC), we have tried to drive this demon away and to deal in (to paraphrase Woodrow Wilson), “open information, openly arrived at.” We were gratified at the directors’ meeting when someone from outside the mine action community (Niels Harild of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees) suggested that the paradigm has now shifted. To share information in today’s world, he asserts, is to increase—not diminish—one’s power. It is through that hopeful and re-polished lens that we would like to review two critical issues facing the mine action community—strategic planning and coordination, which were raised …

The Evolution Of Mine Detection Dog Training, Dan Hayter

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Global Training Academy has been building mine detection dog (MDD) capacities for years, even while they worked under skeptic voices and much criticism. Now the academy serves as the main MDD sub-contractor for the Department of State (DOS), and has experienced many successes with their program.

The Mine Action/Mine Risk Education Integrated Approach, Hanoch Barlevi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Integration is a popular buzzword in current dialogues among United Nations’ experts and practitioners. The integration of mine risk education (MRE) into mine action programs is crucial if a program is to be successful in addressing the mine threat in a holistic and comprehensive way.

Humaid’S Demining Efforts In Guinea-Bissau, Susanna Sprinkel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Guinea-Bissau may not have one of the largest landmine problems in the world, but the lives of native Guineans continue to be threatened on a daily basis by landmines/UXO that remain from previous conflicts. This study highlights the efforts of the non-governmental organization (NGO) HUMAID, whose main objective is to keep working until Guinea-Bissau is landmine-free.

Ppe: Effective Protection For Deminers, J. Nerenberg, Jean-Philippe Dionne, Aris Makris

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article briefly explains the work that Med-Eng Systems, Inc., has done on personal protective equipment (PPE) over the past few years.